JP2023065778A - Inkjet recording device, and method for controlling inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce viscosity of ink while suppressing power consumption.SOLUTION: A temperature sensor 72 detects a temperature of ink supplied to a plurality of nozzles 32. In the case in which a detection temperature of the temperature sensor 72 is lower than a reference temperature when a control part 8 receives a print request, the control part 8 executes preliminary vibration control of generating meniscus oscillation of the ink in the plurality of nozzles 32 by vibrating a plurality of piezoelectric elements 33. By vibrating the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 according to an output object image of the print request after the detection temperature is raised to the reference temperature, the control part 8 executes ink discharge control of generating discharge of the ink in the plurality of nozzles 32. When the detection temperature is higher than the reference temperature when the control part 8 receiving the print request, the control part 8 executes the ink discharge control without executing the preliminary vibration control.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus capable of reducing the viscosity of ink and a control method for the inkjet recording apparatus.

An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of piezoelectric elements. Each of the plurality of nozzles forms an image on the sheet by ejecting ink onto the sheet.

The plurality of piezoelectric elements pressurize the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles, respectively. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are provided corresponding to the plurality of nozzles.

As the temperature of the ink decreases, the viscosity of the ink increases. If the viscosity of the ink supplied to each of the nozzles is high, the ejection performance of the ink from each of the nozzles when each of the piezoelectric elements operates deteriorates.

Further, it is known that the inkjet recording apparatus includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside the apparatus, and a heater that heats the ink supplied to the recording head (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100003). . In this case, the inkjet recording apparatus operates the heater when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is lower than the reference temperature.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-118456

By the way, if the ink jet recording apparatus operates the heater for heating the ink when the environmental temperature is low, the first print time can be shortened. The first print time is the time from when the inkjet recording apparatus receives a print request to when it starts printing.

However, if the heater is operated before the ink jet recording apparatus receives the print request, the heater may waste power.

Further, the heater heats the ink through a member forming the ink passage or the ink container. Therefore, the thermal efficiency in heating the ink by the heater is not high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of reducing ink viscosity while suppressing power consumption, and an inkjet recording apparatus control method.

An inkjet recording apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a temperature sensor, and a controller. Each of the plurality of nozzles forms an image on the sheet by ejecting ink onto the sheet. The plurality of piezoelectric elements pressurize the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles, respectively. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles. The controller controls the plurality of piezoelectric elements. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a reference temperature when a print request is received, the control unit causes the plurality of piezoelectric elements to vibrate to cause meniscus oscillation of the ink in the plurality of nozzles. Preliminary vibration control is executed, and after the detected temperature rises to the reference temperature, the plurality of piezoelectric elements are vibrated according to the output target image of the print request, thereby causing the plurality of nozzles to eject the ink. Ink ejection control is executed to Further, the control section executes the ink ejection control without performing the preliminary vibration control when the detected temperature exceeds the reference temperature when the print request is received.

A method of controlling an inkjet recording apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is a method of controlling the inkjet recording apparatus including the plurality of nozzles, the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and the temperature sensor. In the control method, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a reference temperature when a print request is received, the processor causes the plurality of piezoelectric elements to vibrate to cause meniscus oscillation of the ink in the plurality of nozzles. and performing preliminary vibration control to generate Further, in the control method, the processor vibrates the plurality of piezoelectric elements according to the output target image of the print request after the detected temperature has risen to the reference temperature by the preliminary vibration control. and executing ink ejection control to cause ejection of the ink in the nozzles. Further, the control method includes performing the ink discharge control without performing the preliminary vibration control when the detected temperature exceeds the reference temperature when the processor receives the print request.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of reducing the viscosity of ink while suppressing power consumption, and a control method for the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle unit in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device in the inkjet printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a printhead control procedure in the inkjet printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of a print head control procedure in an inkjet printing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiment is an example that embodies the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[First Embodiment: Configuration of Inkjet Recording Apparatus 10]
An inkjet recording apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment is a printer capable of performing print processing using an inkjet method.

The print processing is processing for forming an image on the sheet 9 . The sheet 9 is a sheet-like image forming medium such as paper or resin film.

It is also conceivable that the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is a facsimile machine, a copier, a multi-function machine, or the like, which can execute the printing process by an inkjet method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes a sheet containing section 1, a sheet feeding device 2, a printing section 3, a plurality of ink containers 4, a sheet conveying device 5, a sheet discharging device 6, a control device 8, and the like. . Furthermore, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 also includes an operation device 801 and a display device 802 .

The sheet storage section 1 , the sheet feeding device 2 , the printing section 3 , the plurality of ink containers 4 , the sheet conveying device 5 , the sheet discharging device 6 and the control device 8 are arranged inside the main housing 11 .

The sheet containing portion 1 can contain a plurality of sheets 9 . The sheet feeding device 2 conveys the sheets 9 accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 1 one by one to the sheet conveying device 5 .

The sheet conveying device 5 conveys the sheet 9 in a predetermined conveying direction D0 while facing the surface of the sheet 9 to the printing section 3 . The direction perpendicular to the transport direction D0 is the main scanning direction D1, and the direction opposite to the transport direction D0 is the sub-scanning direction D2 (see FIG. 1).

The printing unit 3 forms an image on the sheet 9 by ejecting a plurality of colors of ink onto the sheet 9 conveyed by the sheet conveying device 5 .

The sheet conveying device 5 is arranged below the printing section 3 . The sheet conveying device 5 has a conveying belt 51 and a plurality of tension rollers 52 .

A plurality of tension rollers 52 rotatably support the transport belt 51 . A motor (not shown) rotates the conveying belt 51 by rotating one of the tension rollers 52 . The conveying belt 51 conveys the sheet 9 in the conveying direction D0 on its upper surface by rotating.

The sheet discharging device 6 is provided downstream of the sheet conveying device 5 in the conveying direction D0. The sheet ejection device 6 ejects the image-formed sheet 9 from the main housing 11 to the ejection tray 12 .

The plurality of ink containers 4 are containers that contain inks of predetermined colors. In this embodiment, the ink colors are black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Accordingly, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 has four ink containers 4 .

[Print section 3]
The printing unit 3 forms an image on the sheet 9 by ejecting ink onto the sheet 9 conveyed by the sheet conveying device 5 . The printing unit 3 includes a plurality of recording heads 30 corresponding to a plurality of ink colors.

In this embodiment, the printing unit 3 includes four recording heads 30 corresponding to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks.

Each recording head 30 has a nozzle unit 31 . The nozzle unit 31 is arranged to face the upper surface of the transport belt 51 . The ink is supplied from a plurality of ink containers 4 to a plurality of recording heads 30 .

Each nozzle unit 31 includes a plurality of nozzles 32 (see FIG. 2). An image is formed on the sheet 9 by ejecting ink onto the sheet 9 from each of the plurality of nozzles 32 .

Each nozzle unit 31 includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 , a plurality of pressure chambers 35 and a plurality of diaphragms 34 . A plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 , a plurality of pressure chambers 35 and a plurality of vibration plates 34 are provided corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 32 , respectively.

The plurality of pressure chambers 35 communicate with the plurality of nozzles 32, respectively. The plurality of pressure chambers 35 form passages for ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles 32, respectively. The ink inside the multiple pressure chambers 35 is an example of the ink supplied to the multiple nozzles 32 .

The plurality of diaphragms 34 form part of partition walls of the plurality of pressure chambers 35, respectively. Each piezoelectric element 33 pressurizes the ink in the pressure chamber 35 via each vibration plate 34 by being supplied with a drive signal.

The drive signal is a pulse width modulated continuous pulse signal. The drive signal is supplied from the control device 8 to each of the piezoelectric elements 33 .

That is, each piezoelectric element 33 pressurizes the ink supplied to each of the plurality of nozzles 32 by being supplied with the drive signal from the control device 8 .

The piezoelectric element 33 to which the drive signal is supplied vibrates with the energy of ink ejected from the corresponding nozzle 32 . That is, each of the piezoelectric elements 33 pressurizes the ink in the pressure chamber 35 to such an extent that the ink is ejected from the nozzle 32 by being supplied with the drive signal.

The ink pressurized by the piezoelectric element 33 supplied with the drive signal flows from the pressure chamber 35 into the corresponding nozzle 32 and is ejected from the nozzle 32 .

The operating device 801 is a device that accepts a human operation. For example, the operation device 801 includes operation buttons and a touch panel.

The display device 802 is a device that displays information. For example, the display device 802 includes a panel display device such as a liquid crystal display unit.

[Control device 8]
The control device 8 executes various data processing and control of devices included in the inkjet recording apparatus 10 . The control device 8 is an example of a control section that controls the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 and other devices.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the control device 8 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81 and peripheral devices such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) 82 , a secondary storage device 83 and a signal interface 84 . Furthermore, the control device 8 comprises a communication device 85 and a drive circuit 86 .

The CPU 81 is a processor that executes various data processing and controls by executing computer programs. The CPU 81 is an example of a processor that controls the piezoelectric elements 33 and other devices.

RAM 82 is a computer-readable volatile storage device. The RAM 82 temporarily stores the computer program executed by the CPU 81 and data output and referred to while the CPU 81 executes various processes.

The secondary storage device 83 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device. The secondary storage device 83 can store and update the computer program and various data. For example, one or both of a flash memory and a hard disk drive are employed as the secondary storage device 83 .

The signal interface 84 converts signals output from various sensors into digital data, and transmits the converted digital data to the CPU 81 . Further, the signal interface 84 converts the control command output by the CPU 81 into a control signal, and transmits the control signal to the device to be controlled.

The communication device 85 can communicate with a host device (not shown) and other devices. The host device is an information processing device such as a personal computer or smart phone operated by a user.

For example, CPU 81 receives a print job from the host device through communication device 85 . The printing section 3 forms the image specified by the print job on the sheet 9 .

The drive circuit 86 inputs the control signal from the CPU 81 through the signal interface 84 . The drive circuit 86 outputs the drive signal to each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 according to the input control signal.

The drive circuit 86 performs PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control of the drive signal according to the content of the control signal. The drive circuit 86 controls the amount of ink ejected from the plurality of nozzles 32 by the PWM control.

CPU 81 includes a plurality of processing modules implemented by executing the computer program. The plurality of processing modules include a main controller 8a, a transport controller 8b, a print controller 8c, and the like.

The main control unit 8a executes control for starting various processes according to an operation on the operation device 801, control of the display device 802, and the like.

The conveying control section 8b controls the sheet feeding device 2, the sheet conveying device 5 and the sheet discharging device 6. FIG. That is, the conveyance control section 8b controls the supply of the sheet 9 from the sheet containing section 1, the conveyance of the sheet 9 by the sheet conveying device 5, and the discharge of the sheet 9 by the sheet discharging device 6. FIG.

The print control unit 8c causes the print unit 3 to execute the print processing in synchronization with the sheet conveying device 5 conveying the sheet 9. FIG. The print control unit 8c controls the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 to cause the print unit 3 to perform the print processing.

The print controller 8c outputs the control signal to the drive circuit 86 through the signal interface 84. FIG. Thereby, the print control unit 8c controls the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 through the drive circuit 86. FIG.

As the temperature of the ink decreases, the viscosity of the ink increases. If the viscosity of the ink supplied to each nozzle 32 is high, the ejection performance of the ink from each nozzle 32 deteriorates when each piezoelectric element 33 operates.

Therefore, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes a heater 71 that heats the ink (see FIG. 2). Further, the control device 8 includes a heater power supply circuit 87 that supplies power to the heater 71 (see FIG. 3).

Furthermore, the plurality of processing modules in the CPU 81 includes a heater control section 8d (see FIG. 3). The heater controller 8 d controls the heater 71 through the heater power supply circuit 87 .

By the way, if the heater control section 8d operates the heater 71 when the environmental temperature is low, the first print time can be shortened. The first print time is the time from when the inkjet recording apparatus 10 receives a print request to when the print processing is started.

Receiving the print job by the CPU 81 through the communication device 85 is an example of receiving the print request. Further, detection of a print start operation on the operation device 801 by the CPU 81 is also an example of receiving the print request.

The print start operation includes an operation of designating data to be printed and a predetermined start operation.

However, if the heater control unit 8d activates the heater 71 before receiving the print request, the heater 71 may waste power.

Further, the heater 71 heats the ink through a member forming the ink passage or the ink container. In the example shown in FIG. 2, heater 71 heats the ink through nozzle unit 31 . Therefore, the thermal efficiency in heating the ink by the heater 71 is not high.

Note that the nozzle unit 31 is a member that forms the plurality of pressure chambers 35 and the plurality of nozzles 32 . The nozzle unit 31 is an example of a member that forms the ink passage. The heater 71 heats the ink supplied to the multiple nozzles 32 .

In the inkjet recording apparatus 10, the print control section 8c and the heater control section 8d execute recording head control, which will be described later (see FIG. 4). As a result, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 can reduce the viscosity of the ink while suppressing power consumption.

The inkjet recording apparatus 10 has a temperature sensor 32 for each nozzle head 31 (see FIG. 2). A temperature sensor 32 detects the temperature of the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles 32 . For example, temperature sensor 72 is a thermistor.

In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 72 detects the temperature of the nozzle unit 31 . Thereby, the temperature sensor 72 detects the temperature of the ink staying in the nozzle unit 31 via the nozzle unit 31 .

[Print head control]
An example of the printhead control procedure will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. The print control section 8c starts the recording head control when receiving the print request.

For example, the print control section 8c starts the recording head control when receiving the print job through the communication device 85 . The print control unit 8c also starts the printhead control when the print start operation to the operation device 801 is detected.

In the following description, S101, S102, . . . represent identification codes of a plurality of steps in the recording head control. The print control unit 8c starts the process of step S101 in the recording head control.

<Step S101>
In step S101, the print controller 8c determines whether or not the temperature T1 detected by the temperature sensor 72 is lower than a preset reference temperature TS1.

When the print control unit 8c determines that the detected temperature T1 is lower than the reference temperature TS1, the process proceeds to step S102. On the other hand, when the print control unit 8c determines that the detected temperature T1 is equal to or higher than the reference temperature TS1, the process proceeds to step S105.

<Step S102>
In step S102, the print controller 8c starts preliminary vibration control. In the preliminary vibration control, the print control section 8c supplies a predetermined preliminary vibration signal to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 through the drive circuit 86. As shown in FIG.

The print control unit 8c vibrates the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 by supplying the preliminary vibration signal to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 . By vibrating the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 according to the preliminary vibration signal, the ink meniscus swings in the plurality of nozzles 32 .

The preliminary vibration signal is a signal that vibrates the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 with energy that causes the meniscus oscillation of the ink. Specifically, the preliminary vibration signal is a continuous pulse signal having a lower frequency and a lower duty ratio than the drive signal.

When the preliminary vibration control is executed, the ink is not ejected from the nozzles 32 and the meniscus oscillation occurs inside the pressure chambers 35 and the nozzles 32 . As a result, the temperature of the ink inside the pressure chamber 35 and the nozzle 32 rises.

Further, when the preliminary vibration control is executed, the energy of the vibration of the piezoelectric element 33 is efficiently transmitted to the ink through the vibration plate 34 . As a result, the temperature of the ink inside the pressure chamber 35 and the nozzle 32 is efficiently raised.

After starting the preliminary vibration control, the print control unit 8c shifts the process to step S103.

<Step S103>
In step S103, the print controller 8c determines whether or not the detected temperature T1 has risen to the reference temperature TS1.

The print controller 8c continues the preliminary vibration control while performing the process of step S103 until the detected temperature T1 rises to the reference temperature TS1. When the print controller 8c determines that the detected temperature T1 has risen to the reference temperature TS1, the process proceeds to step S104.

<Step S104>
In step S<b>104 , the heater control unit 8 d starts heater control for controlling the operation of the heater 71 through the heater power supply circuit 87 .

In this embodiment, the heater control is feedback control of the heater 71 based on the detected temperature T1.

For example, when the detected temperature T1 is lower than the first target temperature, the heater control unit 8d causes the heater power supply circuit 87 to supply power to the heater 71 until the detected temperature T1 rises to the second target temperature. The second target temperature is higher than the first target temperature.

Furthermore, when the detected temperature T1 exceeds the second target temperature, the heater control section 8d causes the heater power supply circuit 87 to stop supplying power to the heater 71 until the detected temperature T1 drops to the first target temperature.

The heater control may be PID control based on the detected temperature T1 and the first target temperature.

The heater control section 8d continues the heater control until the print processing corresponding to the print request is completed. After starting the heater control, the heater control unit 8d shifts the process to step S105.

<Step S105>
When the process of step S<b>105 is performed, the transport control unit 8 b causes the sheet supply device 2 and the sheet transport device 5 to supply and transport the sheet 9 .

In step S105, the print control unit 8c executes ink ejection control in synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet 9. FIG.

When the process of step S105 is executed after the process of step S102, the print control section 8c ends the preliminary vibration control and then executes the ink ejection control.

In the ink ejection control, the print control unit 8c outputs the drive signal corresponding to the output target image of the print request to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 through the drive circuit 86. FIG.

That is, the print control section 8c vibrates the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 with energy at a level at which ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles 32 in the ink ejection control. In other words, the print control unit 8c causes the plurality of nozzles 32 to eject ink by vibrating the plurality of piezoelectric elements 33 according to the output target image.

The print process corresponding to the print request is executed by the process of step S105. The print control unit 8c executes the ink discharge control until the print processing corresponding to the print request is completed, and then terminates the recording head control.

As described above, the print control unit 8c executes the preliminary vibration control when the temperature T1 detected by the temperature sensor 72 is lower than the reference temperature TS1 when receiving the print request (steps S101 and S102). reference).

Further, after the detected temperature T1 has risen to the reference temperature TS1 by the preliminary vibration control, the print control section 8c executes the ink discharge control according to the output target image of the print request (see steps S103 and S105). ).

On the other hand, when the print request is received and the detected temperature T1 exceeds the reference temperature TS1, the print control unit 8c executes the ink ejection control without performing the preliminary vibration control (steps S101 and S105). reference).

By executing the print head control, the heater 71 does not operate before the print request is generated. Therefore, the situation in which the heater 71 wastefully consumes power does not occur. Further, the temperature of the ink inside the pressure chamber 35 and the nozzle 32 is efficiently raised by the occurrence of the meniscus oscillation. As a result, it is possible to reduce the viscosity of ink while suppressing power consumption.

Further, the heater control unit 8d performs feedback control of the heater 71 based on the detected temperature T1 when the detected temperature T1 is lower than the reference temperature TS1 when receiving the print request (see steps S101 and S104). .

In this embodiment, when the detected temperature T1 is lower than the reference temperature TS1 when the print request is received, the heater control unit 8d controls the heater 71 after the detected temperature T1 rises to the reference temperature TS1 by the preliminary vibration control. (see steps S101 to S104).

On the other hand, the heater control unit 8d does not perform the feedback control of the heater 71 when the detected temperature T1 exceeds the reference temperature TS1 when receiving the print request (see step S101).

The ink whose temperature can be raised by the preliminary vibration control is limited to the ink staying inside the pressure chamber 35 and the nozzle 32 before the ink ejection control is executed. By executing the feedback control of the heater 71, the viscosity of the ink flowing into the nozzles 32 is properly maintained even when the printing process is executed for many sheets 9. FIG.

[Second embodiment]
Next, an inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The inkjet recording apparatus according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the inkjet recording apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the print control section 8c and the heater control section 8d execute the recording head control according to the procedure shown in FIG. 5, for example.

An example of the printhead control procedure according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Also in this embodiment, the print control section 8c starts the recording head control when receiving the print request.

In the following description, S201, S202, . . . represent identification codes of a plurality of steps in the recording head control. The print control unit 8c in this embodiment starts the processing of step S201 in the recording head control.

<Step S201>
In step S201, the print controller 8c determines whether or not the temperature T1 detected by the temperature sensor 72 is lower than a preset reference temperature TS1. The process of step S201 is the same as the process of step S101 in FIG.

When the print control unit 8c determines that the detected temperature T1 is lower than the reference temperature TS1, the process proceeds to step S202. On the other hand, when the print control unit 8c determines that the detected temperature T1 is equal to or higher than the reference temperature TS1, the process proceeds to step S206.

<Step S202>
In step S202, the print controller 8c starts the preliminary vibration control. The processing of step S202 is the same as the processing of step S102 in FIG.

After starting the preliminary vibration control, the print control unit 8c shifts the process to step S203.

<Step S203>
In step S203, the print controller 8c determines whether or not the detected temperature T1 has risen to the reference temperature TS1. The process of step S203 is the same as the process of step S103 in FIG.

When the print controller 8c determines that the detected temperature T1 has risen to the reference temperature TS1, the process proceeds to step S204.

<Step S204>
In step S204, the print control unit 8c determines whether or not the number of prints N1 in the print request is equal to or greater than a preset reference number NS1.

The reference number NS<b>1 is the number of sheets 9 that can be printed with the ink remaining inside the pressure chambers 35 and nozzles 32 .

When the print control unit 8c determines that the number of printed sheets N1 is equal to or greater than the reference number of sheets NS1, the process proceeds to step S205. On the other hand, when the print control unit 8c determines that the number of printed sheets N1 is less than the reference number of sheets NS1, the process proceeds to step S206.

<Step S205>
In step S205, the heater control section 8d starts the heater control. As described above, the heater control is feedback control of the heater 71 based on the detected temperature T1. The process of step S205 is the same as the process of step S104 in FIG.

The heater control section 8d continues the heater control until the print processing corresponding to the print request is completed. After starting the heater control, the heater control unit 8d shifts the process to step S206.

<Step S206>
When the process of step S<b>206 is performed, the transport control unit 8 b causes the sheet supply device 2 and the sheet transport device 5 to supply the sheet 9 and transport the sheet 9 .

In step S206, the print controller 8c executes the ink ejection control in synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet 9. FIG. The process of step S206 is the same as the process of step S105 in FIG.

When the process of step S206 is executed after the process of step S202, the print control section 8c ends the preliminary vibration control and then executes the ink ejection control.

The print process corresponding to the print request is executed by the process of step S206. The print control unit 8c executes the ink discharge control until the print processing corresponding to the print request is completed, and then terminates the recording head control.

Even when the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is employed, the same effects as when the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is employed can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the heater control unit 8d executes feedback control of the heater 71 based on the detected temperature T1 when the first predetermined condition is satisfied when the print request is received (steps S201, S204 and S205). The first predetermined condition is that the detected temperature T1 is lower than the reference temperature TS1 and the number of prints N1 in the print request is equal to or greater than the reference number NS1.

Further, the heater control unit 8d does not perform the feedback control of the heater 71 when the second predetermined condition or the third predetermined condition is satisfied when receiving the print request (see steps S201 and S204).

The second predetermined condition is that the detected temperature T1 is lower than the reference temperature TS1 and the number of prints N1 is lower than the reference number NS1. The third predetermined condition is that the detected temperature T1 exceeds the reference temperature TS1.

According to this embodiment, the power consumption of the heater 71 is further reduced when the number of prints N1 is small.

2: Sheet feeding device 3: Printing unit 4: Ink container 5: Sheet conveying device 6: Sheet discharging device 8: Control device 9: Sheet 10: Ink jet recording device 30: Recording head 31: Nozzle unit 32: Nozzle 33: Piezoelectric element 34: diaphragm 35: pressure chamber 71: heater 72: temperature sensor 801: operation device 802: display device

Claims (4)

a plurality of nozzles each forming an image on the sheet by ejecting ink onto the sheet;
a plurality of piezoelectric elements each pressurizing the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles;
a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles;
A control unit that controls the plurality of piezoelectric elements,
When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a reference temperature when a print request is received, the control unit causes the plurality of piezoelectric elements to vibrate to cause meniscus oscillation of the ink in the plurality of nozzles. Preliminary vibration control is executed, and after the detected temperature rises to the reference temperature, the plurality of piezoelectric elements are vibrated according to the output target image of the print request, thereby causing the plurality of nozzles to eject the ink. Execute ink ejection control to
Further, the control unit executes the ink ejection control without performing the preliminary vibration control when the detected temperature exceeds the reference temperature when the print request is received. further comprising a heater for heating the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles;
The control unit performs feedback control of the heater based on the detected temperature when the detected temperature is lower than the reference temperature when the print request is received,
2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller further does not perform said feedback control of said heater when said detected temperature exceeds said reference temperature when said print request is received. further comprising a heater for heating the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles;
When the print request is received and the detected temperature is lower than the reference temperature and the number of prints in the print request is equal to or greater than the reference number, the control unit feeds back the heater based on the detected temperature. run the control,
Further, when the control unit receives the print request, the detected temperature is lower than the reference temperature and the number of prints is less than the reference number, or the detected temperature exceeds the reference temperature. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feedback control of the heater is not executed in the case of a plurality of nozzles each forming an image on the sheet by ejecting ink onto the sheet;
a plurality of piezoelectric elements each pressurizing the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles;
A control method for an inkjet recording apparatus comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ink supplied to the plurality of nozzles,
preliminary vibration for generating meniscus oscillation of the ink in the plurality of nozzles by vibrating the plurality of piezoelectric elements when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a reference temperature when the processor receives a print request; exercising control;
The processor ejects the ink from the plurality of nozzles by vibrating the plurality of piezoelectric elements according to the output target image of the print request after the detected temperature rises to the reference temperature by the preliminary vibration control. executing ink ejection control to generate
and executing the ink ejection control without performing the preliminary vibration control when the detected temperature exceeds the reference temperature when the processor receives the print request. Method.

Images